Highway marking



1940- P. H. CRESWELL ET AL 2,220,316

HIGHWAY MARKING 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1938 INVENTORPAUL-KCRESWELL BYPOBERT A. KELLY M 2% LATTORNEYS 1940- P. H. CRESWELLETAL 2,220,316

HIGHWAY MARKING INVENTOR PAUL CRESWELL BY ,FPOBERT A. KELLY 0w 5 y v-x-ATTORNEYSm Nov. 5, 1940.

P. H. CRESWELL ET AL HIGHWAY MARKING Filed Sept. 25, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR PAUL CRESWELL BY ROBERTA. KELLY ATTORNEYS Nov. 5, 1940. P. H.CRESWELL ET AL 2,220,316

HIGHWAY MARKING Filed Sept. 23, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 v F I 8o 3 Q N 3.J I I a R {I Q R 88 INVENTOR PAUL cREswEu. 8y ROBERTLA KELLY ATTORNE rsNOV. 1940- P. H. CRESWELL ET AL HIGHWAY MARKING 6 Shets-Sheet 5 FiledSept. 25. 1958 INVENTOR PAUL CRESWELL. BY ROBE'PT A- KELLY ATTORNEYSHIGHWAY MARKING Filed Sept. 23, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. lZ

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: d i Q l Q Q INVENTOR PAUL CRESWELL B) R BERT A. KELLY ATTORNEYSPatented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED "STATES PATIENT some; a 1 7 A 5,226,316 a iI ,m'cnwaY-Ma axme'fl I Paul H. Creswell member-e a. Kelly, Xenia,:Ohio, aasignors to Robert A. .Kcllya'nd Paul H. Creswell, xenis ohiapartnership doing bu sinessasKelly-Creswell Company I. ApplicationSeptember 23, weas l-n1 no. 231,46 a I This invention relates to markingdevices and more particularly to an improved machine lfor marking orpaintinglines on streets and high-'- ways. Other uses include the layingout ofathletic grounds, aviation fields and other surfaces requiringmarking. I

Heretofore various types of deviceshave been used for marking lines onhighways, streets and the-like, for the purpose of defining trafficlanes, comprising gravity fed revolving brushes and paint sprayingapparatus utilizing the dragging or disk type of guide plates for'endeavoring tc maintain the edges of the linessharply defined.

These older types of devices are slow, costly to operate, wastefuloflpaint or marking material, and the lines formed therewith lackuniformity. Aside from this the mechanical guide plates used forconfining the spray to the desired width of line rapidly wear out fromcoming in contact with the pavement or road surface. I

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved marking machinewhich eliminates the above defects and providesa highly improved,economical and efllcient marking'device.

Another object is toprovide a machine which will place-marks, lines,stripes or indicla on a surface continuously or. intermittently, asdesired.

Another object is to provide a marker which will produce either a singleor double line 'o f predetermined width and of sharply defined edgescontinuously or intermittently on a surface.

Another object .is to provide a clevice'of this.

A still further object of thisfin'vention is to provide a machine whichwill confine the marking material to the desired width of the line andwill eliminate dripping ofthe marking material at the, end of the lineor fon'terminating the mark. I

And yet another object is to provide a marking device wherein fluidpressureis used to keep both the margin of the lines straight and thedriving wheels of the machine locked together so as to prevent wabblingof the machine during anism illustrated in Figure movement. In this waya uniform straightedged line'can be laid down over rough or smoothsurfaces. I i

This invention has other objects in view which will be apparenthereinafter in the detailed description thereof taken in connection withthe drawings, e

In the drawings: I Figure 1 is an'elevation viewof the marking machineof this invention; I

Figure 2 is a view taken on the line 2-' 2 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows, with certain parts diagrammaticallyillustrated;

I Figure 3 is a section takenon the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in thedirectionof the arrows, with .certain'parts broken away to more clearlyillustrate the construction of the air operated clutch; I I

I Figure 4 isa similar view of the clutch mech- 3.' showing the parts indeclutched position;

Figure 5 is a' view taken on the line 5- -5 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows,

showing, the arrangement of, the sprayhead nozzlesand air curtains; v I

Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5, showing when making asingle'wide'line; I I I Figure (is a detail view taken on the line I ofFigure 5, looking in the direction of the a 'Figure8 is a' sectionalview through one'of th'e aircurtains, taken on .the line 8--8 of Figure6;, I

Figure 9 is a detail view'of the arrangement Figure 10 is a sideelevation view of one of the air curtain means; j I 1 Figure 11 is aview looking into the open end thereof Figure 12 is a' detail view ofthe paint and inter-spray headvolume control means;

Figure 13 is a similar view thereof taken on thevline l 3l3 of Figure12, lookingv in the direction of the arrows;

the position of the spray heads and air curtains I of the spraynozzlefland air curtains illustrating the path which the paint ormarking fluid and air take during operation of the device;

. Figure 14 is a detail vi w-or thejchamber air Figure 171s a detailview showing the ad justing means for the pulley attached to the belttension member;

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view taken on the line l8i9 of Figure 2,showing the construction of the friction pulley wheel attached to thecompressor flywheel shaft.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 20 designates a frame or mountingwhich may be of any h suitable construction, such asdrawn tubular steelor the like. The frame is provided with wheels 2|, which may be' of theball bearing pneumatic tire type, designed to support a paint or lacquertank 22. tank is employed, but when desired aplurality .of

tanks or containers may be used for this purpose.

0n the forward end of the frame is mounted a motor or engine 23 fordriving and operating the machine. The engine is arranged to operate the\0 adjacent compressor 24 by means of the belt 29 which is connected tothe engine driving friction pulley 26 and the driven friction pulleywheel 21.

The wheels 2| are driven by the friction drive.

The mechanism for driving the machine over the surface to be marked isillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 wherein the friction pulley 36 flxed onthe outer end of the shaft 3'! is driven by the compressor pulley wheel21 fastened to theshaft 31. The pulley wheel 391s connected by means ofthe belt 39 to the friction pulley 39'keyed' to the countershaft 29, onwhich are mounted the friction driving pulley members 29. mechanismillustrated only one driving belt and accompanying friction pulley areshown; however, it will be understood that two or more similar drivingbelt and pulley means may be used.

In order to propel the machine along the surface to be marked the engineor power supply unit 23 is started which operates the air compressor 24and at the same time drives the friction pulleys 23 on the countershaft29 by means of the driven pulley 39, belt 38 and pulley wheel 39 keyedto shaft 29. Compressed air is thereafter admitted to the cylindersofthe clutches 30 to move the revolving shaft 29 forward so that thefriction pulleys .23 thereon will contact the wheels 2| to providetraction. The direction and rate of movement of the machine, of course,will depend upon the direction of rotation and R. P. M. of the frictionpulleys 23.

Some variation in the traction speed of the machine is provided bymaking the V-type friction pulley 133 of split-wheel construction soasto permit adjustment as illustrated in Figure 18.

Compressed air is introduced into the clutch cylinders 33 by'means ofthe pipe 40 which is connected to the cylinder head member 4 l bolted tothe top of the cylinder. A flexible fluid tight 7 diaphragm 42 isclamped between the outer flanges of the cylinder and cylinder headmembers, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The cylinder head member 4i isprovided with central radiating slots 4|a which are designed to permitthe air pressure to actupon a large area of the (1.1

Preferably a single paint ures 8 and 4.

In the phragm when the clutch is in declutched position, as illustratedin Figure 4.

'Although air pressure is preferably employed for operating theclutches, it is to be understood that hydraulic fluids may be used forthis purvl5 pose. For instance, suitable means for forcing a liquidthrough the pipe 49 toactuate the piston members 32 is contemplated. 7

1 Upon the admission of compressed air or other suitable fluid means totheplston head chamber 1 of the clutches, the" diaphragm. 42 is flexedto urge the piston 32 to move forward, carrying the shaft 29journaledtherein, as illustrated in Fig- An elongated slot 43 in the sides ofthepiston cylinder 33.. permits movement of 15 the shaft relative to thecylinder to bring about theengagement and disengagement of the frictiondriving pulleys 23 with the surface of the -The'iiuid pressure operatedclutches are ordinarily maintained in declutched position by meansfot'the spring pressed bellcrank 44. One

arm of the bellcrank comprises a flnger shaped member 49 which isurgeddn contact with the bottom of the .piston'" 32'fby the compressionspring 49. This spring is positioned between the cylinder and arm 41 ofthe crank and tends to force the arm outward awayffrom the cylinder,which in turnforces the arm 49 against the bottom of thepiston. Attachedto the outer ends of the arm "is a stud bolt 43 provided for varying thelimit of the forward travel of the, piston 32, as shownin Figures 3 and4. The belt tension adjusting member 49, formed integral or otherwisesecurely attached to one of 3.5 said-bellcran'k memberais adapted toautomatii cally take up the slack in the belt 33 when the clutch isoperated to move the" shaft" and pulley 39 forward. The belt tensionadjuster comprises an arm 59 which preferably is formed integral withthe bellcrank member 44 and ex,- tendsin the opposite direction.pivoting about. the'fulcrum'il. j

0n the outer end of the arm 50 is fastened an idlerpulley wheel 92 whichis of a shape to accommodate the belt '38 The 'idler pulley mounting ismade fast to the flanged head member "formed on the end of the arm 50,by means of the nut 54 threaded on the outer end of the member as whichis integral with the'enlarged pulley shaft portion 53. The pulley isfree to rotateion the enlarged shaft section 99 between the abuttingshouldermember l1 and the cap 53.

The latter means retains the pulley on the shaft Thehead member'flhasanelliptical shaped aperture 59 through whichthe threaded end portion59 of the idler pulley shaft'extends, providing lengthwise adjustment ofthe idler pulley shaft mounting. Teeth 69 formed on the flat en- 60gaging surfaces of the members 51 and 93 provide means for retaining theparts securely together when'the bolthead 54 is drawn down tight.

- Referring now to Figures 5 to 1Q, 'inc1usive, there isillustrated thefluid or air curtain guide 65 membersfil. which forms one oftheprincipal features 'of this invention. I As shown in Figure 1,

the air curtain guides 6| are located one'on each side of the dependingnozzle 62 attached-to-the undercarriage of the machine throughwhich 7paint, lacquer or other marking material is del livered in anarrowangled spray stream onto the surface therebeneath;

Y The fluid curtain guides, as shown in Figures 9 and 10,compriseelongated, narrow,*h'ollow, fun- 75 nel shaped members having aweb 63 extendin across the opening near the outer end, and at the centerof which is formed the rectangular opening or slot 64. The side walls 60of the slot are formed parallel and at right angles to the transverseaxis of are cut on a bias. The web 63 comprising the rectangular slot iscountersunk from the outer end to provide an outward-flared, V-shapedexit 61, as shown in Figure 9.

The air curtains are mounted on the manifold 68 by means of the bolt 69which extends through the neck of the curtain member into the back wallof the manifold, as illustrated in Figure 8. Exhaust gasis conducted tothe manifold 68 by the pipe 10, which in turn is connected to theexhaust of the engine 23. Compressed air, gas, or suitable fluid, may besupplied'to the guide curtains from a compressor, as shown, fan,, orother suitable means, for delivering gas or fluid under pressure. It ispreferable to employ. exhaust gas from the engine for this purpose. In

some instances liquids maybe used in place of exhaust gases or air. Theliquid selected preferably is substantially immiscible with the markingmaterial so as not to cause bleeding or running of the mark.

Provision is made for raising and lowering the air curtain members whichare attached to the manifold I58, by moving the manifold up or down onthe vertical guide members II in response to the adjustment of the wingnut member 12 with respect to the supporting plate". Compression springsI4 are provided on the guide members 'II between the manifold 68 andsupporting plate I3 to maintain the manifold and accompanying aircurtain means taut at all times. Likewise the nozzle members 62 areprovided for adjustment on the supporting rod I5 by means of the longi-.40tudinal slots 16 and the upstanding end guide members 11. Supportingrod I5 is maintained in position on the guide members 11 by tighteningof the screws 18. The limit of vertical adjustment of the rod Iimay beprovided by the 45 positioning of the lugs I8 on the guides 11.

By the use of air curtains in the operation of the marking machine ofthis invention, there is produced a decided improvement in laying downsharply defined lines over the use of disks or 50 dragging platesheretofore employed for this purpose. When using disks or plates, paintgathers on the disk and drips off after the operator ends a line, whichresults in a spatter-ed trailing out of the line. Further dripping offof the paint 55 from the disk occurs. during the painting of the linecausing poor cross distribution, that is, piling up of the paint at theedges of the marking. This is both wasteful. of paint and results in animperfectly formed line. Aside from this, on

pavements which are rough or wavey, paint passes under the guide platesmaking an 111 defined, fuzzy line.

All of the above defects are overcome by the employment of an aircurtain on each side of the C paint spray nozzle for confining thespreading of the paint. As shown in Figure 9, the nozzles 6| throughwhich the exhaust gases, or compressed air, pass, forming the gascurtains 80, are located high enough to be substantially out of range of70 the paint spray 8| so that large quantities of paint cannot gather onthem. In this way only an inconsequential amount of mist from the spray,as indicated at 82, on Figure 9, collects on these nozzles, and thisdries instantly so that no 75 dripping off of paint from the air curtainnozzles the opening, while the end walls 66' occurs. Thus paint isconserved and no fuzzy edged lines are produced.

The air curtains also confine the paint spray just as effectively onrough surfaces or in depressions as on smooth pavement and the 1ike,-sothat regardless of the road conditions a sharply defined line isproduced. Due also to the particular shape of the air curtain nozzle, aconcentrated volume of' air can be directed into the outer portion ofthe paint spray onto the surface to maintain the edges of the lineperfectly straight and well defined.

The paint spray nozzles or atomizers and air curtain members will bepreferably placed at one side of the machine frame and to .the front sothat a person. operating the marker can walk along the side of the linelaid down by the spray nozzles. Handlebars "will be provided fordirecting the operation of the machine, and-the forward or front end ofthe machine will be supported by a single or double wheel, not shown.The steering ofthe machine is effected by applying pressure tooneor'theqother handle bars to slightly tilt the apparatus inorder to causeit to move in a curve when necessary.

' An important feature in the operation of this machine is the lockingtogether of the. traction wheels by the fluid operated friction pulleys,as heretofore mentioned. It is by this means that the wobbling of themachine over rough surfaces is prevented and the operator can easily laydown straight, sharply defined lines or markings.

An air cylinder or manifold 841s positioned between the handle bars.Connected to: the air cylinder is an air pipe or conduit 85 to supplycompressed air from the compressor to the cylinder 84. Air pipes orconduits 86 connect the air supply cylinder 84 with the paint atomizersor nozzles 62. These nozzles are provided with hand operated-cut-oifvalves adjacent the airicylinder 84 for convenience of the operator. l j

The paint tank or container islikewise supplied with compressed airthrough'the pipe 88 on which the hand valves 89 and 80 are placed foradmitting and releasing the air from the container, respectively. Eachof the air pipes is preferably provided with pressure gages and needlevalve adjusting means 9|. Compressed air is supplied to theconduit 40from the air cylinder 84 by means of the conduit 82 which is controlledby the hand operated valve 83.

Paint is supplied from the tank 22 to the nozzle 82 by means of thepipes 94 which are controlled by globe valves 95. A paint line drain isconnected to the bottom of the paint supply tank, as at 80, and includesthe outlet valve 01 for drawing off the paint from the container. Formaintaining the paint or marking liquid agitated during use, compressedair is introduced into the bottom of the tank from the compressorthrough the pipe 80. Mechanical .agitators, optionally, may be used.

Paint volume control means is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 andcomprises a rod 88 which is attached to the hand lever I00 by means ofthe crank arm IN. The end of the rod 88 is threaded and extends throughthe outer. portion of the arm IOI receiving the adjusting lock nuts I02.The hand lever is secured to the handle bars 83 as shown at I03 inFigure 13.

The opposite end of the rod 98 is attached to the crosshead bar I04which carries the interspray head volume control members I05. Theseinter-spray head members are constructed of an outer flexible tubinghaving an inner rod I08 extending to the paint sprayhead nozzles 62providing means for opening and closing the spring pressed nozzle needlevalve conventionally employed in paint spray nozzles. This arrangementprovides finger-tip control by the operator and enables him to cut offand on, at will, the paint spray so as to produce intermittent lineswhile the machine isin motion. Wherethe curtain guide means are suppliedwith air or gas from the exhaust, it unnecessary to provide means forconnecting and disconnecting the exhaust fluid supplied thereto; this,of course,- is

optional. V

The fluidioperated clutches controlled by the valve 93 comprise atwo-way valve member ro-' tatable by the hand lever I01 and allow theoperator to either connect the air line from the air compressor manifold84 to the clutches or release the air-to the atmosphere therefrom, asshown in Figure 15. On release of the compressed air from: the clutchcylinders the friction pulleys engaging the wheels 2| will beautomatically disengaged, stopping the machine.

A pressure gage I is attached to the air compressor feed'line pipe 05which is connected to the air leveler chamber or manifold 84 to indicatethe airline pressure. Adjacent thegage is a relief valve III! which isalso provided with a hand tripping means 0 for lowering the air pressurewhen desired.

In the constructionbf the marking device shown in the instant drawings,a double line markingmachine is provided but itwill be appreciatedthatthe machine can be readily adjusted to laydown one or more lines.Further by using several tanks comprising different colored paint orlacquer, two or more strips may be painted atone time. These lines orstrips can be placed adjacenteach other or. separated by adjusting thepaint spray atomizers or nozzles 62.

It is believed that in view of the above disclosure, a clearunderstanding of the construction, operation and utility of the markingmachine of this invention will be readily apparent without furtherdetailed description.

It will be further understood that obvious modifications may be made inthe construction of the machine by persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting. from the spirit of this invention.v

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A machine for applying marking material to a flat surface such as aroad surface comprising a chassis, a manifold mounted on said machinetransverse to the line of travel of said machine over said surface, apaint spray mechastantially transverse of the line of travel of said'machine; r I

2. A machine for applying marking material to a flat surfacesuch asa'road-surface comprising a chassis, a manifold mounted 'on said machinetransverse to the line of travel of said machine over said surface, apaint spray mechanism mounted on said machine having at least one paintstriping nozzle mounted above and adjacent to said' surface, a pluralityof fluid nomle members, means for pivotally connecting said last namednozzles on said manifold on either side of said paint nozzle to providea gas curtain on either side thereof, and'means providing for lateraladjustment of said nozzles on said manifold toward and away from saidpaint nozzle and substantially transverse of the line of travel of saidmachine, and means mounting said manifold for vertical adjustment towardand from said road surface; s

' 3.'A machine for applying marking material to a flat surface such as aroad surface comprising a' chassis, a manifold mounted on said machinetransverse to the line of travel of said machine over said surface, apaint spray mechanism mounted on said machine having atleast one paintstriping nozzle mounted above and ad-' jacent to said surface, aplurality of fluid'nozzle members, means for pivotally connecting saidlast named nozzles on'said manifold on either side of said paint nozzleto provide a gas curtain on either side thereof, and means providing forlateral adjustment of said nozzles on said manifold toward and away fromsaid paint nozzle and 'substantially transverse of the line of travel ofsaid machine, and means mounting said manifold for vertical adjustmenttoward and from said road surface, said last named means includingvertical guide members and spring'means for spacing said manifold fromanother part of said mounting means. Y

- PAUL I-I. CRESWELL.

ROBERT A. KELLY.

